Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-02-04
EARLY OHIO DAYS.
The Marietta Pioneers and Their
Descendants.
Romance OF the Pretty Daughter of ohio's
First Govcrnor--Thc First shcrir In Ohio
And His Early Adventures.

Tho l,real descendants of the pioneers tina
came 20 Marietta and made the FIRST settlemcn
OF Ohio In 1888, can be traced readily TO th
generation, and IL Is n matter OF very genera
interest TO know that many OF these old families
have at the present time representatives wht
reflect distinguished credit upon their founders
The hardy qualities of brain and dy tina
marked the leaders among the early ttlcrs o
Ohio have been transmitted 10 succeeding gen
erations, and nothing has been lost in the dc
scent.
III ,he late war thoro were four distinguished
Generals upon tho Union sido who trace thcii
lines back TO some OF the families that came &c
Marietta before 1870. Two Generals who nrC
descended from the pioneers are Don Carlo,
Buell. und Irwin Mcdowell The other two arc
Generals Pope and BacRus. Mcdowell was
descendant OF Colonel Abner Lord, and there
are great many wcn known persons now living
wlo had Mr.. Lord str an ancestor. Il. +. An
drcws, the Washington artist Is one whom re
call and there is n prominent family in Coum
bus that belongs TO this same branch OF the Lord
descendants.
Mrs. ]. B. Foraker, the wife OF the present
Governor OF Ohio, was Miss Julia Bundy, o
jackson County, and one of her great grand
parents came 10 Ohio In the Western Maynowci
that bore the first settlers hero or few months
later, with second party OF pioneers. The con
ncction with the pioneers is on her mothers
side, tho maternal ancestor having been n Cap
tain william Jones, n soldier OF the Revolution
Another wcll-known descendant OF Colonel
Abncr Lord, is Prof. Tappan, the State School
Commissioner elect One of Colonel Lords
daughters married Judge BENJAMIN Tappan, OF
Stcubcnvllc who was one OF the u. S. Senators
rom Ohio. Colonel Abner Lord was Conncc.
ticut man, and he lived In nm obong frame
house near the station OF the Marietta and Gin.
ctnnad railroad, whic.. is now used, in part, for
u hotel.
One of the most conspicuous figures in the
history nj thnt nf M N.
enczcr Sprour. He was the first sheriff in
Ohio, and his commanding figure led the for
NAL and solemn procession that marched to
open the first court in the Northwest Territory.
DIR. Andrews, of Mari ettn, has recently dis
covered that Spront changed his name when he
came TO Ohio. In Rhode Island he was known
as Sprout and there are old papers cxtant
signed by him in that way. Why he altered the
spelling OF his name is not known, but II is GER
tain that he did so.
There used 10 be story floating about
among tho old people in Washington County
that the Indians faTorably impressed by tho
handsome physique of Sproat, gave him the
name of Hetuck, or Big Buckeye, md that
from this circumstance the name OF Buckeye
was gradually applied TO nll residents OF Ohio
Colonel Sproat was the physical hero of early
times, md there is small doubt that he com
mandcd the hearty admiration OF the hunters
and mdiuns. He was six feet four inches in
height.
Tic vas native OF Massachusetts born In
1152, and was man of some education, an en-
ginecr by profession. AT the beginning OF the
war OF the Revolution he was given the com
mand OF n company, and he speedily rose TO
the first place in his regiment. II Is said that
he was the tallcst man and strictcst discipline
rinn in the brigade. At the close of the war he
removed TO Providence and married Catharine
Whpple, the daughter OF the blum, quaint old
naval officer who has been mentioned in these
sketches After his marriage Sproat engaged
iu business, but war had untitled him for the
pursuits OF peace, and he very promptly lost
his own money and all that his wife brought
to him. In 1887 he was made one OF the sur.
reyors OF the Ohio Company. and in the fall OF
that year led party of men TO Simrells Ferry,
near Pittsburgh, whGre he superintendent the
building OF the Maynowor. Colonel Sproat was
employed us n surveyor OF the Ohio Company
till 1871, when the Indian war gave him more
congcnial occupation. He held the position of
High Sherin. US 1t was then called under Gov
ernor st. Clair, for fourteen years, and no sherin
OF Ohio or other State has given to the oiiice
more dignity and form. He had great respect
for the office and always carried q sword rs the
proper emblem of his position.
Colonel Sproat was a friend OF General Wash
ington and an acquaintance of Lafayette He
died suddenly in 1906 His daughter was mar
ried to Solomon Sibley, who became one of the
prominent men in the early days of Minnesota